Chapter 43

Translator: penny

Chapter: 43

Chapter Title: Immortal Dao Tournament (1)

I pulled the smallest treasure from my storage pouch among the various ones inside, and upon seeing it, I couldn't help but let out an admiring gasp.

The treasure I'd retrieved was a snow-white needle about as long and thick as my forearm. Aside from its twisted, coiled body, it had an incredibly simple design.

Yet it was crafted with such exquisite precision that it stood perfectly straight, its smooth lines drawing the eye hypnotically.

'Made from Hu claws, huh.'

The white needles came in a set of nine, and judging by their color, they were fashioned from Hu claws.

'Oh, there's a jade token attached.'

I spotted the jade token tied to the cord binding one set and infused it with my divine sense. Immediately, I learned the treasure's name and how to use it.

"Nine Child ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Needles..."

A name drawn from the legend of the dragon siring nine sons? Dragon Births Nine Sons, right? There's a theory that Hu is one of those nine dragon offspring.

I promptly dripped essence blood onto the Nine Child Needles to claim them as mine, then lightly channeled magic power to test them out.

The moment I infused them with magic power, the nine needles transformed like a nimble wind escape practitioner into a single streak of wind, darting around the room.

That wind was razor-sharp and piercing, slicing through or cleanly penetrating everything it grazed. It rampaged wildly until I commanded it to return, at which point it obediently came back to my side and resumed its needle form.

'Incredible! A treasure that attacks foes at wind escape speeds.'

Wind escape was the fastest escape art among those usable by peers at my level. If I reinforced the treasure with my amalgam art on top of that, it would become an unblockable swift strike even Core Formation cultivators couldn't dodge.

'Low magic power consumption, minimal impact on surroundings—perfect for quick deployment anytime, anywhere. Stealthy enough for assassinations, versatile in open combat. A sudden ambush exploiting its speed would be terrifying.'

I slipped the Nine Child Needles into my left sleeve. There was a leather strap for securing them, but since they were slightly shorter than my arm, hiding them like this concealed them perfectly.

With the refined flying sword in my right sleeve and the Nine Child Needles in my left, I drew out the next treasure.

"Hm? A helmet?"

I examined the deep green helmet, bamboo-like in hue, turning it this way and that before checking the jade token for its name.

Gazing Heaven Purple Gold Crown.

A purple gold crown aspiring to the heavens.

'It's a helmet called a crown... Purple gold crown—gotta be that one. Like the Compliant Golden Hoop from Journey to the West that Sun Wukong used, or Lu Bu's from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'

I inspected the helmet again.

'No feather ornament? And it's not golden.'

The hallmark of a purple gold crown was that long feather plume reaching to the waist, wasn't it? I had no idea what the real ones looked like, but the illustrations of Sun Wukong's and Lu Bu's were styled that way.

Unlike the "crowns" they wore atop their heads, this was a protective helmet encasing the skull—and the forehead bore a sprouting Hu horn.

'Anyway, is the treasure's power for real? Boosting divine sense? That's perfect!'

Stronger divine sense meant drawing out greater power from treasures, amplifying spell potency, and enhancing environmental perception and enemy suppression.

Part of me wanted to exploit it by using the enhanced divine sense from the Gazing Heaven Purple Gold Crown to further amplify the crown's power, creating an infinite loop—but the crown had limits, so that wouldn't work.

Over two days, I became the crown's master, then donned it and activated the treasure.

Upon activation, two large jade-green feather plumes of spirit energy sprouted from the helmet, draping beautifully down to my waist. At the same time, my divine sense strengthened.

"About a twenty percent boost to my divine sense?"

I fondly stroked the Gazing Heaven Purple Gold Crown before pulling out the next treasure.

"This one's a saddle!"

The next treasure was armor-cum-saddle for draping over Little Hu.

"Even though the nascent soul vanished and most of the corpse's spirit essence diminished, limiting reforgable parts, they still made a saddle from Hu."

And there were more treasures in the storage pouch besides.

Of course, given the massive size of the Hu corpse, even sparse parts would yield this much.

'Geum So-ryeo's commissioned artifact refiner must be exceptionally skilled too.'

Master, I keep owing you. Once I'm stronger, I'll repay you properly.

I inwardly vowed this to Geum So-ryeo as I immediately summoned Little Hu and fitted the saddle.

After smacking his rump to stop his fidgeting protests, I equipped the armor-like saddle that covered him from shoulders to tail tip.

"Little Hu, you look just like your original form now."

Gazing at Little Hu saddled in green reminded me of the green Hu I'd slain.

Krrrrowl.

Little Hu grumbled discontentedly at my words, but I smacked his rump again to settle him.

'It stabilizes my posture when mounted, preventing falls from the saddle?'

A seatbelt treasure, basically.

The name had registered in my mind, but I promptly forgot it. I'd just call it the saddle anyway.

Thus, one by one, I unpacked the treasures until the final one emerged.

The last was a full-body suit of armor.

Mountain Pattern Armor, was it? No helmet since I had the Gazing Heaven Purple Gold Crown, but every other part was complete—a tremendous treasure.

'They really made this solely from the Hu corpse I brought?'

I scrutinized areas that looked like they incorporated non-Hu materials, wondering if Geum So-ryeo had supplemented some.

This armor, seeming an artistic evolution of the Mountain Pattern Armor, featured a massive Hu face embossed on the chest and fur trimmings from Hu mane across the body, lending majestic dignity.

'Protecting Dragon Bellows Wind Armor.'

An armor guarded by dragons and blowing forth bellows winds.

Bellows wind meant typhoon, but also the final of Journey to the West's Three Disasters: the Wind Calamity.

A horrific tribulation where wind entered through the orifices, melting flesh and bone, decomposing the nascent soul, annihilating existence beyond reincarnation.

True to its name, the Protecting Dragon Bellows Wind Armor excelled in both defense and offense.

Tougher than the Water Buffalo Armor beneath, it shielded my body superbly while summoning blocking clouds and ferocious winds to assault enemies.

Already potent, it hid an ace up its sleeve too.

I quickly registered as its master, then draped it over the torn-shoulder Water Buffalo Armor.

"Looking good."

With Protecting Dragon Bellows Wind Armor over Water Buffalo Armor and Gazing Heaven Purple Gold Crown on my head, even I judged myself a dashing, dignified general.

Hu scales gleaming on the Protecting Dragon Bellows Wind Armor made it seem like I'd clad myself head to toe in a whole dragon.

Best of all were the wide sleeves—Geum So-ryeo, knowing I hid my refined flying sword there, had requested them specially broadened.

Thanks to that, refined flying sword and Nine Child Needles remained seamlessly concealed in my sleeves.

"How do I look?"

"Master, you look awesome!"

I spread my arms, turning to Little Ahan, who had been staring blankly. She hopped excitedly, showering me with praise.

I smiled at the sight.

I'd worried Little Ahan was withdrawn from the eastern formations' destruction by Han Chun-oh, but she seemed fully recovered.

After all, she'd diligently cultivated during my ten-year seclusion, reaching ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠second layer Foundation Establishment. It'd be a shame if trash like Han Chun-oh triggered her heart demon.

'Gotta brew nectar spirit liquor to aid Little Ahan's cultivation too.'

Gauging her condition with divine sense, I set aside worries about her training pace for now and focused on finishing preparations for the Immortal Dao Tournament.

'Just need to claim my tribulation avoidance pills.'

As I finished binding all treasures to myself and prepared to head to the main peak—

A paper talisman folded bird-like flew into my lodgings, transmitting a voice directly to my divine sense—not my ears.

I jolted in surprise.

'Divine sense voice transmission!'

This technique of sending one's voice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠via divine sense required Nascent Soul attainment.

It meant one's divine sense transcended mere sensory organ, wielding influence over others—the mark of a cultivator's spirit essence awakening into a nascent soul.

"Master, what's that?"

"Hold on, Little Ahan."

Was the transmission solely for me? Little Ahan, unable to hear it, eyed the sudden paper bird curiously.

I signaled her to hush and focused on the transmission.

What? Why?!

"Ah, the Immortal Dao Tournament!"

Stunned by the lack of pills, I quickly pieced it together and shouted.

Not just me—other disciples were prepping for the tournament too. Any at Foundation Establishment perfection would crave tribulation avoidance pills to shine there.

Apparently, during my ten-year seclusion, selected disciples at that stage—or ones like me with prior privileges—had claimed them all.

Having delivered the news, the paper bird lost power and crumpled. I pressed my forehead in dismay.

"...Should've claimed the pills first, then secluded?"

Habit of handling immediate tasks first and deferring the rest led me to postpone the pills—never expecting this.

'From now on, grab anything obtainable upfront, whatever it is.'

Reflecting on my critical blunder, I examined the paper bird.

"It's been around a while..."

Evidently, the pills ran out during my seclusion; I was just the last to hear, buried in training.

...Just attempt Core Formation breakthrough anyway?

'No way! Poor aptitude means breakthroughs drag on. Even single-element root users take days at minimum.'

For my three-element root, it'd consume at least a month. By then, the tournament would start—I'd miss it and forfeit by absence.

No help from Geum So-ryeo this time; she hadn't returned.

"...No choice."

I sighed, steeling myself.

'Win like this.'

High Heaven Sect Immortal Dao Tournament winners were always Core Formation perfection.

This time, let's make history.

The one and only Foundation Establishment perfection champion: Yong Yoo.

Nice ring. Success would etch my name into sect history forever.

"Little Ahan, let's prepare."

"Huh? Prepare for what, Master?"

I explained the situation.

"Can't breakthrough to Core Formation now, but other preps are essential. Take my identity token—I'll mark it with a command. Collect ten years' pay and meet me at the market."

"Got it!"

Core direct disciple's ten-year stipend. Time to play rich.

Deep in a hidden eastern cavern beneath Sea Severing Peak, a man sat in silence.

This man suppressed the Nascent Soul breakthrough insights that sought him unbidden, soothed his nascent soul raging to shatter its core this instant, striving to maintain Core Formation perfection.

"Soon... just soon. Forming Nascent Soul amid Ancient Secret Scripture energies will grant power surpassing ordinary ones. Calm yourself. Look not to immediate gains, but the long cultivation path ahead. For that future, endure a little longer."

At such times, he lamented his excessive talent.

Some risked life chasing fortuitous encounters for breakthroughs; others, like him, suppressed overeager ones for better conditions.

As the breakthrough subsided, he exhaled in relief.

"Yes... hold on just a bit. Almost. Almost."

He opened his eyes calmly, gazed toward the cavern entrance, ended his meditation, and rose.

Donning a frayed brown High Heaven Sect robe on the verge of tearing, he bound a self-made cord linking dozens of talismans over it, then stepped out for the first time in decades to compete in the imminent Immortal Dao Tournament.

The man's name: Yeom Suk.

Kidnapped by Geum So-ryeo and entering cultivation late, his sole goal burned bright.

For his revered master—and the woman harbored in his heart—to become peerless genius, revive High Heaven Sect's greatness.

For that, Yeom Suk vowed tournament victory.